Thanks Tribectus! Following your advice, I edited the files directly, and I've had a lot of success with some minor edits. I've freed Lee, I've tweaked some generals and, thanks to the work y'all did in the portraits thread, I replaced a lot of the CSA clone generals. I've also set Kentucky to secede most of the time. It's way easier to figure out in the files rather than through the database. Here's what I did. I changed the files in the full campaign events, 1861 April Campaign file:
Code: Select all
SelectFaction = CSA
SelectRegion = $Fayette_KY
SelectFaction = CSA
SelectRegion = $Fayette_KY
StartEvent = evt_nam_CSA_KentuckySecedes1861|1|2|evt_txt_CSA_KentuckySecedes1861|Event-img_CSA_KentuckySecedes1861|$Fayette_KY|121
Conditions
MinDate = 1861/07/01
MaxDate = 1861/08/05
Probability = 80
EvalMorale = >;$USA
I shifted the probability to be 80, and that seems to be working (unless my luck has just been surprisingly good).
I'm going to do some more tweaking as well. Basically, I want to set up the early game to give the CSA a bit more of a fighting chance on higher difficulties.
To that end, I want to figure out some of the scripting for the early events. What language determines whether a unit is locked? What determines whether a unit shows up fully formed or forming?
For example, the Shannendoah Force spawns with this event below, and I've included Jackson and his unit's spawn as well:
Code: Select all
SelectFaction = CSA
SelectRegion = $Warren_VA
CreateGroup
Posture = $Defensive
SetKind = $Land
Entranch = 0
InCS = 0
FixType = 3
SetName = Shenandoah Force
Apply
CreateUnit
SetType = $uni_CSA_JJohnston3
SetName = Joseph E. Johnston
Apply
CreateUnit
GMEParam = 2
SetType = $uni_CSA_BdeN2
FlavorName = Brig. Gen. T. Jackson
SUFlavorName = 2nd Virginia|4th Virginia|5th Virginia|27th Virginia|33rd Virginia
SetLevel = 1
SetName = Stonewall Bde
Apply
CreateUnit
SetCommit = 3
SetType = $uni_CSA_Jackson
SetName = Thomas J. Jackson
Apply
I'm guessing that what I'm looking for is probably the GMEParam, the SetLevel, and/or the SetCommit. Am I warm?
:EDIT: I overlooked the obvious answer for determining fix status, "FixType." Now I just want to know what handles the other part, whether they show up fully formed or not.
:EDIT 2: Well, after some experimentation, it seems that formed vs forming is not governed by GMEParam or SetLevel. I don't think SetCommit is it either, though I haven't messed with that yet. SetLevel is just the experience level, and I have no idea what GMEParam does, but changing it causes an error and breaks the spawning of the unit. So....any ideas?
Tribectus, you can answer this one if you've been creating units through events. Can I create something out of whole cloth by just copying an existing event and changing the name? I mean, can I spawn an existing type of unit, not create a new type of unit.
Does the Flavor Name have any impact on the game, as in, could I name it whatever? Say, I want to create a new unit and name it "3rd Mississippi." Would that prevent the game from naming anything else that? Might it cause a conflict? Basically, what do I need to watch out for?
Generals ModificationsHere's what I've tweaked with the generals after doing some research on some of these guys I hadn't heard of. Essentially, I looked for something interesting or unique to try to give them some personality in the game. Now, I've only done very basic internet research, and I am sure there are many, many folks who know vastly more about these matters than I do. I hope y'all won't be too hard on me! I've likely been far to generous with these, but I suppose I'm an old rebel at heart. I'd welcome feedback and suggestions:
- Bushrod Johnson: He was a teacher at a military institute, so I gave him Master Driller, which is probably quite generous. An argument could also be made to give him one of the engineering abilities, seeing as he was an engineering officer to begin with, but given his role in poor construction location of Fort Henry, I think that about breaks even.
- John C. Breckenridge: He was considered something of a successor to Stonewall Jackson, so Charismatic seemed somewhat apropos.
- D. Ruggles: His high water mark in the war was an impressive use of artillery, so I gave him Artilleriest, and he was also often in charge of building defensive fortifications, so I gave him Entrencher.
- Leonidas Polk: Possessor of an awesome name, and not really much of a military man, was quite a patriot, and, as a preacher, a powerful public figure, so I gave him the Patriot ability.
- H.C. Whiting: Whiting seems to have been at his best when he was just an engineer, and with that background, he seems a natural for the two engineering abilities, Defensive and Offensive Engineer.
- William Hardee: As someone else said on the forums, Hardee literally wrote the book on tactics and was a military instructor for quite a while, so he seems a natural for Training Officer, and he was quite good at solving logistical problems, so he seemed a natural for Master Logistican.
- H. Sibley: This one I'm rather torn on. From what I've read, Sibley seems to have begun his downward spiral after his campaign failed. That makes him starting with Drunkard a bit unfair. In place, considering his familiarity with the area and the like, I gave him Ranger, which is probably too generous.
- J. Mouton: He was famous for drilling his men to perfection, so Master Driller seemed fitting.